February 6, 2013

VITTER TO OBAMA: OPEN FEDERAL LANDS

February 6, 2013

WASHINGTON D.C. — Citing a study released yesterday by the Institute for Energy Research, U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) wrote President Obama today urging the administration to redirect its current “anti-fossil fuel agenda” and “make the right decision to promote the positive financial and economic impacts of domestic energy production on federal lands on our nation’s economy.”

The IER study, entitled “Beyond the Congressional Budget Office: The Additional Economic Effects of Immediately Opening Federal Lands to Oil and Gas Leasing” was conducted by Dr. Joseph Mason, professor at the Louisiana State University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. According to Vitter, the study highlights “the true potential our economy has to experience if our federal government, specifically the Department of Interior, were genuine about our bountiful domestic fossil fuels.”

“We welcome Sen. Vitter’s letter to President Obama, and we will continue our aggressive efforts to inform policy makers about the tremendous benefits that pro-growth policies for federal lands and energy production could provide for the American people,” IER President Thomas Pyle said.

“Leading policy makers are increasingly aware that the management of our federal lands and the laws that govern them are failing the American people, resulting in lost economic opportunity, lower federal revenues, and fewer jobs. Senator Vitter is a bold advocate for responsible permitting and access decisions on federal lands and waters, and he knows all too well the effects that restrictive energy development can mean to states like Louisiana that depend on energy to support the economy.”